Photo of Carrie Switzer
Department(s):
Psychology
Psychology
Title(s):
Associate Prof.
Psy Department Chairperson
Office Location
UHB 3126
Phone Number

Carrie Switzer is the Chairperson of the Department of Psychology. She received her Ph.D. in Developmental/Educational Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Switzer’s research interests include students’ motivation to attend college, perceived barriers to education, academic self-efficacy, and pedagogy related to teaching a capstone course that incorporates learning goals and objectives in the discipline. The Department of Psychology is currently focused on creating career and professional development opportunities for students, engaging in projects that promote diversity and inclusion, strengthening student recruitment and undergraduate research, and fine-tuning its assessment program. 

Research

Select Scholarship Activities

  • Switzer, C. L., Reminger, S. L., Shen, F. C., & Miller, M. (2022). Using reflection in a capstone course to showcase student learning within the psychology major. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Society for the Teaching of Psychology, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Virtual)
  • Switzer, C. L., Shen, F. C., Hyde, J., Miller, M., Reminger, S. L., & Zaleski, D. (2020). Students’ perceived benefits of a writing-intensive capstone course and reflecting on acquired knowledge and skills. Poster accepted for presentation at the annual meeting of the Association for Psychological Science/Society of Teaching Psychology, Chicago, Illinois. Conference canceled.
  • Switzer, C. L., Shen, F. C., & Reminger, S. L. (July 2017). Student benefits of assessing learning based on the APA’s learning goals & objectives. Poster presented at the biennial meeting of the Vancouver International Conference on the Teaching of Psychology, Vancouver, Canada.
  • Mason, I. (University of Louisville), Stetson, B. (University of Louisville), & Switzer, C. (UIS). (March 2016). Eating behavior patterns of male and female college students residing on and off campus. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Society of Behavioral Medicine, Washington, DC.
  • Cass, M., Reminger, S., Gribbins, M., Switzer, C. L., Morsch, L., & Walsh, A. (August 2015). Student arts and research from a distance: Online student learning and the student arts and research symposium at the University of Illinois Springfield. Poster presented at the annual Distance Teaching and Learning Conference, Madison, Wisconsin.
  • Switzer, C. L., & Reminger, S. (July 2014). Blended learning and discipline approved learning goals enhance best practices for a capstone course. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Blended Learning/Sloan Consortium Conference, Denver, Colorado.
  • Switzer, C. L., Shen, F., *Tohme, R., *Parker, L., & *Windisch, S. (August 2013). Racial/ethnic differences in educational motivation, self-efficacy, barriers, & vocational outcomes. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, Honolulu, Hawaii.
  • Switzer, C. L., Shen, F., *Tohme, R., *Parker, L., & *Windisch, S. (May 2013). Academic self-efficacy mediates perceived educational barriers on motivation to attend college. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Psychological Science, Washington, D.C.
Involvement

Recent Service Activities

  • UIS Senate
  • UIS Promotions Committee
  • UIS Sabbatical & Awards Committee
  • College of Health, Science & Technology Leadership Team
  • College of Health, Science & Technology Dean, Interim Dean, and Interim Associate Dean Searches
  • Midwestern Psychological Association Conference Representative for UIS
Teaching

Courses Taught

  • PSY 221 - Lifespan Developmental Psychology
  • PSY 326 - Family Psychology
  • PSY 327 - Educational Psychology
  • PSY 333 - Positive Psychology
  • PSY 416 - Psychology of Motivation
  • PSY 458 - Psychological Testing
  • PSY 471 - Senior Seminar